KEEN thespians from Gloucestershire have failed in their bid to become the nation's favourite amateur theatre group.

Members of Tewkesbury Arts and Drama Society (TADS) entered a competition called StageStruck. It is being run by the Sky Arts channel and offers as its prize the chance for the winning group to put on a show in London's West End.

The Tewkesbury group had high hopes after submitting a video of a scene from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, involving eight of the society's members. But Sky Arts bosses have not included it on their shortlist of 20.

Brenda Read-Brown, TADS' secretary, said: "That's a shame as we had a good entry."

She added that the group had not had much time to prepare for the competition as it had been launched at short notice. If it is held again next year, TADS will be expected to enter again.

Meanwhile, the group is preparing for its next major production, at The Roses theatre in Tewkesbury. It is The Threepenny Opera. Anyone interested in taking part is invited to a workshop on August 30, with auditions on September 6.